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MOOSE--Manned Orbital Operations Safety Equipment

In November of 1966, the General Electric Re-Entry Systems Department published a brochure describing a "lightweight, erectable, one man re-entry vehicle for emergency return to earth." MOOSE allowed one astronaut to leave his malfunctioning spacecraft, de-orbit and land safely (hopefully) on earth. In a few excerpts, here's a condensed version of the step by step process:

 

 

Step 1

"The astronaut dons a maximum protection space suit. The MOOSE unit is attached to the back of the suit to which are also attached oxygen tanks and a chest-type parachute." He removes the MOOSE and unfolds a six foot Mylar plastic bag and attached heat shield. The heat shield was to be made of General Electric Elastomeric Shield Material (ESM). He steps into the bag and harness and zips the bag closed.

 

 

Step 2

The astronaut pushes himself away from the disabled spacecraft and activates two foam canisters in the Mylar bag. The foam forms a solid wall in the plastic bag, contoured to the astronaut's back and sides.

 

Step 3

"At this point the astronaut is comfortably encapsulated with foam at his back and sides , the front of his body protected only by the aluminum plastic sheet."

 

Step 4

This is where the fun part begins! The astronaut uses his "attitude/de-orbit package to orient the MOOSE to the correct de-orbit attitude. This package contains, among other things, a portable rocket motor. The twin jet exhausts of the motor protrude through the plastic cover in front of the astronaut and fire in the backward direction. After the correct de-orbit velocity has been attained the astronaut orients the MOOSE to the proper re-entry attitude."

 

Step 5

"The re-entry sequence requires no further effort by the astronaut who sees himself surrounded by a ball of fire as the friction of the earth's atmosphere boils away the outer layers of his ablative heat shield. Although engulfed by flame, no heat reaches the astronaut's body--protected by the insulating plastic foam and his space suit."

 

Step 6

"During and after re-entry, MOOSE is aerodynamically stable. Radio signals and radar chaff ejection are automatically initiated. The parachute is deployed at approximately 30,000 feet. A survival kit included in the vehicle is equipped to maintain the astronaut in any earth environment. If touch-down occurs in water, the foam vehicle floats the astronaut like a raft, automatically deploying sofar bombs and dye markers."

 

It's just that easy!